The Official Newspaper for Foster County
The Official Newspaper for Foster County
Sorted by date Results 726 - 750 of 750
Dear Savvy Senior, What is the IRS standard tax deduction for 2021? I didn't file a tax return last tax year (2020) because I lost my job and my income in March due to COVID. But I got a part-time job in 2021 and am wondering if I made enough money that requires me to file this year. Part-Time Retiree Dear Retiree, Whether or not you are required to file a federal income tax return this year depends not only on how much you earned last year (in 2021), but also the source of that income, as well...
Dakota Datebook written by Sarah Walker. There’s nothing quite like an unscheduled break from school to get students excited. This seems to be especially true in North Dakota, when school often plunges on, despite six-foot drifts of blowing snow. Therefore, in 1918, on Feb. 15 , Governor Lynn J. Frazier must have made many children very happy when he signed a proclamation that gave a good many students in North Dakota their own unscheduled break. In fact, he gave every student in the state, students of “both city and rural” areas, Frida...
Dakota Datebook written by Merry Helm. It was on February 8 in 1910 that William Dickson Boyce founded the Boy Scouts of America. His mission was instigated a year earlier when he got lost in a thick London fog. A young man did him a “good turn” and helped him find his way. But when Boyce offered him a tip, the boy refused it, saying he was merely doing his duty as a Boy Scout. Boyce was so impressed he helped establish an American counterpart of the group when he returned to the United States. Boyce was born in June 1858 to what he called “st...
“Mom, how much fruit is too much?” my older daughter asked. “I have been eating a lot of fruit.” I probably raised my eyebrows when I read her text message. I did not think my kids would ever be concerned about eating too much fruits -- or vegetables, either. “Do you have a stomachache?” I asked. “No. I am just eating a lot of fruit since you gave me a blender,” she said. I was happy to hear that her Christmas gift had the desired outcome: eating more fruits. She had purchased frozen fruit an...
Thankfully, winter didn't really start until December. Living in North Dakota we've felt winter begin in October some years and drag into what should be spring. The later winter begins and the earlier it exits is mostly better for resident wildlife. So far, this version of North Dakota winter has been benign if you are a deer, pheasant or other resident wildlife trying to survive one day at a time until spring. But add on another snowstorm or two, and a week-long stretch of below zero...
It’s almost mid-February, so it’s time to check in. How are you? I hope you’re doing well. Winter is a tough time for a lot of people. Days are short and nights are long. It’s been awfully, awfully cold this year and that makes it tough to get outside. My neighbor and my wife both informed me last night that I haven’t been out ice fishing at all this year. I hadn’t even realized it. Human health sometimes suffers in the winter. How about tree health? At least in my own yard, it’s been a tough wi...
North Dakota law authorizes producers of agricultural commodities to establish councils which support their specific industry through research, promotion and education. To my knowledge, the first council formed in our state was the North Dakota Wheat Commission in 1959. Each commodity council is managed by a board of producers. And each county has an opportunity to have a representative who serves as a liaison between the producers and the council. County representatives influence how checkoff...
"Did you crank up the music?" my friend asked. "No. Music distracts me when I am writing," I said. "I tend to focus on the music." I was alone in my work office finishing up some projects. No one else was in the building. Maybe instrumental music would have been OK. If I had been cleaning my office, energetic music would have motivated me. The clicking sound of my keyboard punctuated the silence. After I finished my projects, I tuned my radio to celebratory tunes on my drive home. Music has...
12 Years Ago February 13, 1947 Carrington’s sales tax collections topped 1945 sales tax for 1946 by $12,000 at $54,532.23. An announcement was made this week of the purchase of an implement dealership by Frank Johnson Implements, Inc., a new corporation. Johnson purchased the dealership from Chaffee Brothers Co. which began the dealership in 1902. Rooms in the city hall have been undergoing redecoration recently, the improvement including the city library. Floors are being sanded also in p...
My favorite time of year is starting soon, garden seed starting time. I am starting to prepare and gather materials to start seeds for my school garden programs. As far as I am concerned, there isn’t a better way to endure the cold, snowy days of winter than planning for the growing season. If you are giving seed starting a try this year, there are some supplies you might want to have on hand. If you are a seasoned seed starter, here is your reminder to check your stashes. Seeds are first on t...
Dakota Datebook written by Christina Campbell. In 1861, Dakota Territory included portions of present-day Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. As each region became separate territories, it appeared that the borders of the three future states failed to join, leaving a triangular section between Montana, Wyoming and Idaho that still belonged to the Territory of Dakota. Land office maps from the 1860’s marked this area as almost 100 miles wide and 35 miles deep. On February 11, 1873, the United States Senate approved HR Bill No. 2593 adjoining this triang...
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you give me a brief rundown of Medicare’s enrollment choices along with when and how to sign-up? Approaching 65 Dear Approaching, The rules and timetables for Medicare enrollment can be confusing to many new retirees, so it’s smart to plan ahead. Here’s a simplified rundown of what to know. First a quick review. Remember that original Medicare has two parts: Part A, which provides hospital coverage and is free for most people, and Part B which covers doctor’s visits...
Since hitting his growth spurt in high school, Seth Nelson has always stood a head above most of his peers. The 6’5” graduate of the CHS Class of 2020 and First Team All-State selection in his senior season took his tall, athletic frame and basketball acumen to Bismarck State College, where he has played a outsized role on the court for the Mystics men’s basketball team. In the first 17 games of action this season, Nelson has averaged 13.4 points per game, an even seven rebounds, 2.4 assis...
CSC Eighty-three Chadron State College (Chadron, Nebraska) graduate candidates were recognized Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, in the Chicoine Center. Benjamin Allmaras of New Rockford, earned a Master of Arts in Education degree. CMU The office of Central Methodist University, Fayette, Missouri, announced the students included on the Fall 2021 Dean’s List. Xavier Steven Mattice, of Jamestown, N.D., was among those meeting the requirements for recognition. BSC Kyleigh A. Hilbert, New Rockford, graduated from Bismarck State College on December 17, 2...
MSUM The following students have been named to the Minnesota State University Moorhead Dean’s List in recognition of academic achievement fall semester 2021. Area students include: Charlotte Dalman, Project Management, Midkota High School, Sharon; Cole Homes, Exercise Science, Pingree-Buchanan High School, Jamestown; Bellami Jensen, Early Childhood Education; Madeson Smith, BFA in Art; and Drew Page, Criminal Justice, all from Carrington; Brooke Loen, Social Work, Harvey; and Miranda Johnson, Speech/Language/Hearing Science, New Rockford. B...
Payton Smith, the son of Kyle and Layne Smith of Carrington, is in his third year competing for the North Dakota State University Bison cross country and track and field teams. This last spring, Payton learned a new event on the track, the 3,000-meter steeplechase, and it soon became his specialty race for the outdoor season. He finished first in the steeplechase at the NDSU Spring Classic, and also won the event at the Kip Janvrin Open in Iowa in a time of 9:22.61. Smith also took sixth at the...
Whether she lights up the Harold Newman Arena scoreboard or not with the University of Jamestown, freshman Hannah Hagel has learned lessons that go beyond the basketball court. "The [U of J] has taught me already so many things, whether it's from responsiblity with handling finals, practices and weights, to being able to wake up for an 8:00 a.m. class," she says. Hannah, the daughter of Paul and Julie Hagel of Carrington, is a student-athlete for the Jimmies majoring in biology, and averages...
Dakota Datebook written by Jayme L. Job. Fargo newsboys were shocked to learn of a betrayal among their own ranks on February 10 in 1907. A bundle of newspapers had been stolen from the depot of the Great Northern station on this evening, and several of the city’s newsboys were under suspicion for the act. The Fargo ‘newsies’ had “long enjoyed a most enviable reputation for honesty and the theft of [a] bundle of newspapers by one of their number caused considerable alarm.” The newsies were insistent on finding the culprit, and actively...
12 Years Ago February 6, 1947 The café located in the Buchanan hotel building, will reopen this week under the name of Hotel Café and will be operated by Jack Pettit and Quentin Jensen. Ten million dollars may be available for rural electrification in North Dakota during the next fiscal year if Congress appropriates funds being asked for the REA. Senator Milton Young is fighting vigorously any attempt to cut REA appropriations. Frank C. Johnson, Foster County agent since 1941, has resigned h...
Winter wheat, soybeans and grain sorghum were the common crops in northeast Kansas when I was growing up. A field of corn was a rare sight. The corn varieties at the time didn't perform well during hot, dry Kansas summers. We grew grain sorghum (also called "milo") because it was a reliable crop under our growing conditions. It also made reasonably good livestock feed. That's not to say that grain sorghum didn't have problems. Timely pesticide application was needed nearly every year to control...
Dakota Datebook written by Sarah Walker. Almost any child will express excitement at the prospect of snow; and almost any school-aged student looks forward to the possibility of missing school if it snows too heavily. However, on January 24 in 1951, snow-covered roads proved to be no problem for at least a few young children. Tom Gilderhus was a farmer in Oberon, but he also flew airplanes. After one particularly bad storm, he decided to put his plane to good use; he flew his daughter to high school first, then went back home, picked up the...
It’s January, and the memories of Christmas are already starting to fade. We had a houseful of people, with plenty of food and lots of fun. Two days later, though, things got quiet pretty fast. My wife and I quickly settled into our normal winter routine, with one twist. She bought us a 3,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. Yes, 3,000 pieces! Wow. It was amazing, fun and took us 11 days to complete. The puzzle is a colorful undersea scene with lots of tropical fish and corals. There’s also a section of...
Dakota Datebook written by Merry Helm. It was on February 3 in 1971 that country singer Lynn Anderson’s “Rose Garden” went gold. The album earned Lynn 15 more gold albums worldwide, and back in the states, it ended up going platinum. Bios on Lynn Anderson usually say, “Born in Grand Forks, N.D., September 26, 1947, raised in Sacramento, California.” There’s a little more to it than that. Lynn’s mother, Liz Haaby, grew up in northern Minnesota in a family that was both poor and religious. When Liz was 13, the family moved to Grand Forks. By age...
Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any tax breaks that you know of for family caregivers? I help financially support my 82-year-old mother and would like to find out if I can write any of these expenses off on my taxes. Supplemental Sam Dear Sam, There are actually several tax credits and deductions available to adult children who help look after their aging parents or other relatives. Here are some options along with the IRS requirements to help you determine if you're eligible to receive them. Tax...
By Julie Garden-Robinson Food & Nutrition Specialist NDSU Ext. Service “I’m only spending $40 a month on coffee drinks now. I have my budget on a spreadsheet,” my older daughter and coffee lover commented. My daughter’s 2021 goal was to spend less money on coffee, so spending $10 a week was an improvement. Paying rent and other away-from-home expenses has made her more financially savvy. At this time of the year, many people set some sort of goal or “resolution.” Some goals are related to...
